The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Avalon Elementary
Avalon Elementary serves students in pre-kindergarten through grade five in Fort Washington, an unincorporated suburban community in Prince George’s County. As part of Prince George’s County Public Schools, one of Maryland’s largest and most diverse districts, Avalon is a regular public school in a stable, established residential area along the Potomac River. The school’s enrollment is relatively small for an elementary school, and a substantial share of its students come from families with low incomes, as reflected in a high rate of eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.
The student body is predominantly Black, followed by a large share of Hispanic students, with very small populations of white students, Asian students, and students of two or more races. A small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students are also enrolled. The county-wide district has recently adopted a new evidence-based literacy curriculum and approved budget increases for salaries and student support, both of which affect classroom instruction and staffing at the school level.
On the state assessments given in the 2024-25 school year, performance varied considerably by grade and subject. In third grade, math proficiency was in the moderate range, while reading proficiency was somewhat higher. By fourth grade, the results dropped off sharply in both subjects, with math proficiency particularly low. Fifth-grade reading proficiency improved compared to fourth grade, but math remained low. Fifth-grade science proficiency was also very low. A parent looking at these results will see a pattern in which proficiency rates fall below what many area schools post, and where the gap is especially wide in fourth-grade math. Because only one year of data is available in this source, it is not possible to say whether this represents a trend or a single-year snapshot.
The school boundary has been under review by the district, with changes proposed for the coming year, so families living near Avalon should confirm their assigned school before making housing decisions. The community of Fort Washington itself is a car-dependent suburb with no downtown. Most residents commute to jobs in Washington, D.C., or other parts of the region. The housing stock is largely single-family homes, and home values place the area in the upper portion of the metro market. Rents are high relative to incomes, and the area shows a modest decline in home values over the most recent year reported.
Because Avalon serves only elementary grades, there are no data on high school outcomes such as graduation rates. Similarly, the data provided do not include information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or special education and English learner enrollment, so those dimensions of school life are not available for review. Families considering this school may want to ask directly about class size, the timing of the new literacy curriculum, and what support is available for students who are not meeting the state benchmarks in math and reading. The school’s small enrollment and the district’s recent budget increases for student support could offer some room for individualized attention, but the test results warrant a closer look from any parent weighing the academic fit for their child.
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